Shopper Stories’ Greatest Used Automobile Suggestions for July 2025

Is paying artificially inflated costs and going into debt essential to personal an appropriate car?

Will you need to accept used fashions with fewer security options and questionable reliability?

In no way. A brand new replace on used automotive buying demonstrates that Shopper Stories automotive consultants are serving to consumers discover used-car choices that may save them as much as tens of hundreds of {dollars} whereas nonetheless permitting consumers to personal a secure car with trendy security options and a confirmed monitor document of reliability―all by making use of an analogous stage of rigor and selectively as they do of their new car critiques.

Tariffs are Inflation on the Horizon

CR analysts word that as a result of right this moment’s present consumers are involved about looming inflation and the uncertainty of tariffs and their affect on shoppers, shopping for a used car could make good financial sense for many households.

“With the traditionally excessive value of recent autos lately, increasingly more individuals are naturally seeking to the pre-owned market in the hunt for a greater cut price,” says Alex Knizek, affiliate director of auto check improvement at Shopper Stories. “However they should not must sacrifice security, reliability, or gas economic system to remain inside their finances. That is why we now current Used Automobile High Picks and have expanded our used-car protection and insights.”

Shopper Stories is well-known for its informative new automotive critiques, through which it has highlighted distinctive vehicles, SUVs, and vehicles gleaned via intensive testing and buyer survey knowledge.

Of their evaluation of used automobiles CR automotive consultants think about the next elements:

1. Nice new vehicles do not at all times make nice used vehicles, particularly when factoring in depreciation and long-term reliability.
2. To establish sensible selections, used vehicles had been chosen from a era perspective somewhat than a model-year perspective.
3. The good thing about a era perspective is that it constantly reveals the fashions that grew to become extra trouble-free over a era’s multiyear span; the final two years of a era are typically the very best.
4. Security options in new fashions present in used fashions are one other qualifying consideration.
5. Automobile worth is crucial, as some fashions depreciate greater than others, making them a cut price as a used car in comparison with different used automotive fashions of the identical age.
6. Used automotive consumers should keep in mind that every automotive is exclusive, has its historical past, and should be inspected by an expert mechanic earlier than shopping for.

“The technique we make use of for choosing used vehicles emphasizes worth inside a value vary, and it signifies that the highlighted fashions could not have been the highest-scoring fashions when examined new. As a substitute, they’re typically good vehicles that depreciated greater than others, making them extra enticing as used vehicles than they had been when new,” states the replace.

THE BEST CAR TOP PICKS BY CONSUMER REPORTS

SEDAN UNDER $10,000

2016 Mazda 6 (Era 2014-2011)

Worth Vary: $8,550 – $11,325

Proprietor Reported MPG: 29 mpg

SEDAN UNDER $15,000

2019 Toyota Corolla (Era 2014-2019)

Worth Vary: $12,925 – $16,230

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

SUV UNDER $15,000

2018 Mazda CX-5 (Era 2017-2025)

Worth Vary: $12,025 – $16,450

Proprietor Reported MPG: 26 mpg

HYBRID UNDER $20,000

2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid (Era 2018-2024)

Worth Vary: $16,875 – $21,450

Proprietor Reported MPG: 45 mpg

SMALL SUV UNDER $20,000

2021 Kia Sportage (Era 2017-2022)

Worth Vary: $14,925 – $19,475

Proprietor Reported MPG: 25 mpg

HYBRID SUV UNDER $20,000

2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (Era 2016-2018)

Worth Vary: $15,800 – $20,650

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

3-ROW SUV UNDER $20,000

2018 Mazda CX-9 (Era 2016-2023)

Worth Vary: $12,175 – $17,300

Proprietor Reported MPG: 23 mpg

LUXURY SUV UNDER $20,000

2017 Lexus NX (Era 2015-2021)

Worth Vary: $17,500 – $20,300

Proprietor Reported MPG: 25 mpg

PICKUP TRUCK UNDER $20,000

2015 Toyota Tacoma (Era 2005-2015)

Worth Vary: $13,675 – $20,025

Proprietor Reported MPG: 19 mpg

SPORTS CAR UNDER $20,000

2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata (Era 2016-2024)

Worth Vary: $15,350 – $21,475

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

There’s Extra to Shopping for a Used Automobile Than Its Worth… It is What Occurs After

Though you could have the beneficial pre-purchase inspection earlier than shopping for that used mannequin and the vendor’s assurance that all the pieces is on the up and up, there are vital issues that must be taken care of afterward on this order:

1. Switch the title and registration — go to your native DMV instantly to make sure the automotive is legally in your title. Watch out for curbstoning scams.
2. Get insurance coverage protection — be sure you have acceptable and inexpensive insurance coverage protection in place earlier than you drive a lot additional.
3. Get a full mechanical inspection — this may uncover hidden points missed in the course of the pre-purchase inspection and allow you to deal with them early earlier than they grow to be pricey.
4. Change all fluids and filters — together with engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, air filters, and cabin filters. Do not assume they had been modified or modified appropriately.
5. Verify or exchange the timing belt or chain — if the automotive has a timing belt or timing chain and there is no proof it was lately modified, changing it may stop catastrophic engine injury.
6. Verify tires and brakes — make sure that they’re secure and never worn past their limits.
7. Replace upkeep information and begin a log — to maintain monitor of what is been carried out and when, staying on high of future automotive upkeep.

For added current Shopper Stories suggestions, listed here are a couple of in your consideration:

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based mostly in Cincinnati who at present researches and works on restoring older automobiles with engine modifications for improved efficiency. He additionally experiences on trendy vehicles (together with EVs) with a give attention to DIY mechanics, shopping for and utilizing instruments, and different associated topical automotive restore information. Observe Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites in addition to on Fb and his automotive weblog “Zen and the Artwork of DIY Automobile Restore” for helpful day by day information and subjects associated to new and used vehicles and vehicles.

Picture Supply: Deposit Photographs